CM confident of stalling Telangana Bill

• Says he will use the Assembly to voice his serious concerns over bifurcation
• Will continue to oppose division till the last minute
• Lists out various welfare programmes during the last three years
• Denies any injustice done to Telangana

Hyderabad: Hoping that a situation would not arise where he may have to choose between his loyalty to the Congress party and the stand he had taken on keeping the state united, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said he was trying his best to change the mind of the Congress high command on the issue of dividing the state.

Talking to the media on the completion of three years in office on Monday, Kiran said that he would use the forum of the State Assembly to voice his serious concern on the problems that would arise from bifurcation and the loss the two regions would suffer. Kiran thanked AICC president Sonia Gandhi for giving him an opportunity to become Chief Minister at a young age and the people for their cooperation during the last three years which were full of problems and difficult situations politically and economically. Kiran Reddy said he and his family had always been Congress loyalists.

Listing out various welfare schemes the government had launched during the last three years and the money it had spent, Kiran lamented that in spite of all that agitations had taken place and the party high command had taken a decision to bifurcate the state. Kiran said he had been presenting only 30 per cent of the reasons before the people as to why the state should be kept united. But he had given three times more reasons to the high command and argued as to why the state should not be divided. "I am trying to highlight the problems that would crop up after bifurcation of the state. He said he would continue to oppose the decision to bifurcate the state till the last minute. The tone and tenor of the chief minister, however, indicated that he has reconciled to the state's division. There were no celebrations to mark completion of three years in office. He pointed out that he had taken over when the state was facing many challenges and both the regions (Telangana and Seemandhra) were witnessing protests. He claimed that his government improved the state's economy and took several developmental and welfare measures. Replying to a question, Kiran denied that any injustice had been done to the T region in regard to sharing of river waters. Andhra Pradesh had entered into an agreement with Maharashtra on the issue of Pranahita-Chevella lift irrigation project which would benefit the region. Some 20 TMC of water from Andhra region was being diverted to Bhima project and majority of the assured waters in Krishna were being used in Telangana, he said.

Asked why he had backtracked from his earlier statement that he would abide by the decision of the high command on T issue, Kiran said he was explaining to the high command as to how the decision would adversely affect both the regions. As Chief Minister, he said it was his duty to do so.

When asked if he had taken necessary measures administratively and politically to handle the delicate situation that prevailed in the state when he took over as Chief Minister, Kiran said, “Yes 100 per cent.”

In reply to another question, Kiran denied that the welfare schemes were not being properly implemented because of the division among the ministers on the issue of bifurcation of the state. He said, “Go to the ground level and find out. Programmes like Rachabanda were being held to ensure that the schemes reach those for whom they are meant for. Under the difficult situation the state was passing through all that could be done was being done,” he said.

When questioned about the ongoing controversy about proroguing the state Assembly, Kiran felt that it was a small technical issue and one need not give a political colour to it. At the same time he said he did not know when the T Bill would come before the State Assembly. “When it comes, we will have enough scope to discuss on every issue,” he added.